Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin are unbacked by physical assets. In certain analyses, the cost of creating a Bitcoin, which consumes a growing amount of energy, is proportionate to its market price. Bitcoin blockchains are incredibly safe, but other components of the cryptocurrency ecosystem, such as exchanges and wallets, are not. Several online exchanges have been hacked and stolen during Bitcoin's ten-year existence, leading to the loss of millions of dollars' worth of "coins" in some cases. Despite this, many analysts see potential advantages in cryptocurrencies, including their ability to hedge against inflation and enable exchange, while being easier to carry and split than precious metals, and functioning independently of governments and central banks.